S.F. coach Kelly spoiled perfection, too

Updated 11:59 pm, Wednesday, April 3, 2013

The perfect game is rare indeed. Only 23 pitchers have thrown one. Even smaller is the list of hitters who have broken up perfect games with two outs in the ninth inning.

Houston shortstop Marwyn Gonzalez became the 11th to do it Tuesday night when he lined a single through Yu Darvish's legs to foil the Ranger's bid at Minute Maid Park.

One of the other 10 hitters is Roberto Kelly, now the Giants' first-base coach. On Aug. 4, 1989, Kelly hit a double off Toronto pitcher Dave Stieb with two outs in the ninth inning at SkyDome. Steve Sax then singled Kelly home before Stieb completed a 2-1 victory over the Yankees.

Kelly remembers exactly what he was thinking at the plate that day, probably the same thing Gonzalez and the other nine hitters thought at the time.

"He was tough on us all day, and my frame of thought was I didn't want to be the last out," Kelly said. "I didn't want to be the guy they show every time on TV when his perfect game comes up."

Instead, Kelly appeared Tuesday night on an ESPN montage of hitters busting up perfect games with two outs in the ninth, including the A's Ken Phelps. Phelps homered at the Coliseum to deny the Mariners' Brian Holman on April 20, 1990.

Ryan Theriot waved after his base hit in the 8th scored the Giants final run. First base coach Roberto Kelly is at right. The San Francisco Giants defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 to tie up the NLCS series at AT&T park in San Francisco, Calif. Sunday October 21, 2012.

Ryan Theriot waved after his base hit in the 8th scored the Giants final run. First base coach Roberto Kelly is at right. The San Francisco Giants defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 to tie up the NLCS series

Brandon Belt, who was healthy Saturday in an exhibition game against the A's, has been suffering since from a stomach virus.

Brandon Belt, who was healthy Saturday in an exhibition game against the A's, has been suffering since from a stomach virus.

Photo: Eric Risberg, Associated Press

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S.F. coach Kelly spoiled perfection, too

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Kelly said he did not think about Stieb on Tuesday until his son called to report the mention on ESPN.

Belt Day 3: Brandon Belt said his nausea was gone after two days of a stomach virus but he felt weak anytime he got up to do something. Manager Bruce Bochy said he hopes Belt feels 100 percent for Friday's home opener.

Told that he looked green Monday, Belt said, "That was Kershaw."

Giants on deck

Thursday

Off

Friday

vs. Cardinals

1:35 p.m. CSNBA

Westbrook (13-11) vs. Zito (15-8)

Saturday

vs. Cardinals

1:05 p.m. Channel: 2 Channel: 40

Miller (1-0) vs. Vogelsong (14-9)

Leading off

Who's on first? The Giants have had three first baseman in three games: Brandon Belt, Joaquin Arias and Buster Posey. Arias had not played there since July 9, 2010, with Texas, but made some nice picks Tuesday. "I just tried to catch the ball. They just got stuck in my glove," he joked.